Eight regular-season games will be broadcast on CBS, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. The games will also be simulcast on NFL Network. CBS will carry eight early-season games, while NFL Network will carry the eight late-season games.

Two of those late-season games will played on a Saturday. The NFL confirmed that the games will be scheduled as a doubleheader on Dec. 20 in Week 16. The games will air on NFL Network in the run-up to the playoffs.

For the broadcasts, NFL Network broadcasters will be featured along with CBS Sports announcers in pregame, halftime and postgame shows, while Nantz and Simms call all Thursday Night game action. CBS will produce all 16 regular-season games on the two networks.

“NFL Network built Thursday into a night for NFL fans,” commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Our goal is to bring these games to more fans on broadcast television with unprecedented promotion and visibility for Thursday Night Football on CBS.”

The NFL said the contract is for one year, and the league has an option to extend it for 2015. Financial terms were not disclosed. Part of the reason for a short-term deal is the NFL's indecision about whether it sees the Thursday night franchise as best for its cable network in years to come, or whether the rights money and greater exposure offered by a broadcast network is the smarter financial play.

CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and Turner were all interested in the NFL's Thursday night package.